HIS
history of Banner County is an attempt to give a brief but
accurate account of its early inhabitants and their activities:
The division of Cheyenne County, from which Banner was created,
and the half century following. It is written as a continuous
narrative to appeal to both old and young.In recording events that led to the birth of this county, it will be wise to deal briefly with conditions preceding the division. The land which later became our new county comprises 743 square miles, is divided by the Pumpkin Creek Valley and bounded on the north by the Wildcat range, so named because of the many wildcats which roamed the bluffs in early times.
These Bluffs were covered with an abundance of timber, cedar and pine which gave to the settlers not only fuel but also logs for building purposes, poles for corrals and posts for fences and for sale. It meant food, for hundreds of loads of stove wood were sold by the settlers for $3.00 to $3.50 per load at Kimball and Sidney. Many posts were also hauled to Cheyenne, Potter, Kimball and Sidney. Two men from Kirk are said to have cut and split 100 cedar posts for which they received only seven cents apiece after hauling them seventy five miles to Julesburg, Colo.
There were three or four sawmills in the county in 1888 and 1889 but now the remaining timber is protected. In the central part of Wildcat range is a game preserve extending into Scotts Bluff County.
Pumpkin Creek, fed solely by springs, flows at the foot of Wildcat range. It is fed by Willow Springs and Four J Springs. This is the only running water in Banner County. In 1885 Mr. and Mrs. Olaf Swartz settled near Gabe Springs and the Vance Cross family homesteaded near Long Springs in the bluffs bordering the valley on the south.
Pumpkin Creek, with its abundant good water and lush grass, was a mecca in the early seventies for the stockmen. The Wright ranch was established in 1877 at Northend of Wildcat mountain, where 1,100 head of cattle were wintered. In 1887, when the writers came, the ranch was managed by H. H. Robinson of Kimball; J. S. Robb was his foreman.
South of the southern rim of bluffs is a table land known as the Divide. The pastures were good on this highland but there was no water. The valley is characterized by a sandy soil while the Divide has a dark heavy loam.
The highest land in Nebraska is found in southwest Banner County, where the elevation reaches 5,350 feet. In the early days wells had to be dug by hand to a depth of 200 feet. Later this region was developed into some of the richest wheat fields of the state.
The winters of 1872-73 and 1883-84 were quite severe. Again there were deep snows and severe cold in 1890-91 when the snow was wet. Approximately eighteen inches fell on the level and froze, making it impossible for stock to graze and heavy loss resulted. Since the deep snows of 1898-99, winters have been milder.
The Ashford family came in 1885 and settled on Pumpkin Creek near the future Stage road. South of them in the hills was the Dooley family in Dooley Canyon, which also had a spring. On Willow Creek was the homestead of W. W. Everett who in 1889 had a brick kiln. The Airdale and Egleston ranches were established later east of the Bay State ranch while John Peters had a ranch on the creek further westward.
Prior to 1880 the only industry of the section was cattle raising, conducted by men schooled in the profession. The business required an unpopulated region and the ranchmen paid no rent but established ranches by "right of discovery." There were free ranges and an unwritten law giving each man land according to his needs.
These conditions were utterly changed with the coming of the homesteaders in the early eighties. Each year their number increased until in 1889 nearly every quarter section had been taken either by pre-emption or filing of tree claim rights.
Dugouts, log cabins and sod houses sprang up rapidly and this section of old Cheyenne County became thickly populated. Digging wells was the first step in planning new homes for water had to be hauled from Pumpkin Creek, Willow Creek or Four J Springs in the northern section or from the south range of bluffs with its Long Springs and Gabe Springs. Many settlers dug five or six holes before finding water, then had to draw water in two buckets by hand.
The first settlers began farming with a walking plow drawn by oxen or horses. Each family had a few cows and some chickens. Grass was heavy on the new lands and hopes ran high as sod was broken for a few acres of corn for feed. Many of the early homesteaders worked until the meager crops were harvested then left for Cheyenne
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to earn money to tide them through the winter. A few failed to
make a living and after the second winter left the country.
The first postoffice was established in the 80's
at the home of Lee Livingston with Mrs. Livingston as postmaster.
In August 1887 E. M. Cowen was postmaster at Freeport and Mrs.
Harvey Ransier was Banner postmaster. In October of 1887 Ashford
postoffice was established with Mrs. Ashford as postmaster. A. B.
Hull was postmaster at Hull. The first rural stage route was from
Redington.
Since there was no town in the region, several
small stores were established which necessitated the freighting of
supplies from Kimball, Potter and Sidney. Wagons drawn by oxen or
horse teams provided transportation, The trip required two full
days with the men walking part of the time to relieve their
fatigue. The men spent their nights in the livery stables.
Soon after Ashford was started, Centropolis was
established on the pre-emption which C. A. Schooley purchased from
Pete Clausen. A frame building, the Red Front, was built on this
land by Schooley, who with his nephew, C. H. Randall, had come
from Harrisburg, Penn. Randall was first Centropolis
postmaster.
This Red Front building provided quarters for
the first store while in the rear was established the first
newspaper office, The Centropolis World. On Aug. 12, 1889 a
mortgage was recorded by Randall for a printing press and type.
Not long afterward, Randall purchased a quarter of land north of
his uncle's place and one evening moved the Red Front building
along with its Centropolis postoffice to a site one-half a mile
north. His personal belongings, printing press and the store of
Fred Jirden were also taken. Considerable furore ensued but the
first constable, Henry Gary, quickly moved everything back to the
original location.
Almost every community had its postoffice served
by a mail route. These included Hull, Epworth, Mingo, Dorrington,
Kirk, Heath and Lorraine, in addition to four which were seeking
the county seat: Centropolis, Ashford, Banner and Freeport. Aiding
the Freeport campaign was the Freeport Gazette. Records show that
on Feb. 9, 1888, Allison J. Shumway gave a $106 mortgage to J. J.
Wilson for a half interest in the Gazette.
Beginning in 1887 there were three attempts to
divide the county but it was not until the fall of 1888 that these
met with success. In January of 1889 Banner County was
organized.
H. R. Stevens surveyed and drew the plot for the
county seat May 22, 1889. C. A. Schooley donated the land and had
the courthouse built as a gift to the county. The name Centropolis
was changed to Harrisburg in his honor and he dedicated the new
town May 29. The dedication was signed by John A. Logan, the first
county clerk.
The first mortgage in the. new county was
recorded March 2, 1889: H. Dunlavy to L. D. Lee, one grey mare,
one cow $22. Others:
March 8, 1889 F. M. and Grow Hall to Joe Gamble,
$305 on two horses with harness.
April 4, 1889 A. S. Alexander to Bank of Gering,
1 wagon, 1 bull, 2 heifers for $45.
May 28, 1889 0. V. Bowker to Bank of Gering, 4
cows, 1 bull, 1 ox with yoke and chain.
Aug. 19, 1889 W. W. Everett to Bank of Kimball
50,000 burnt brick on Willow Creek for $200.
April 18, 1890 I. L. Yoey to C. J. Carlisle, 2
oxen for $34.35. Again on July 3 same year he borrowed $9.25 on 1
bureau and 1 mare.
Sept. 3, 1889 T. D. Viner to Enderly Bros., 30
acres corn for $15.00.
Cyrus Van Pelt was first county treasurer and
the first tax receipts he issued and signed were:
Real estate tax receipts No, 1, year 1888, paid
June 20, 1889 by Anna McCronan.
Personal tax receipt No. 1, to Lee D.
Livingston, paid Dec. 9, 1891; personal taxes since 1886.
A. H. Dunlavy, the first county attorney,
prosecuted his first case July 2, 1889: State of Nebraska versus
J. W. Stranahan. Case dismissed on motion of County Attorney A. H.
Dunlavy.
The same date, State of Nebraska versus L. E.
Enderly selling liquor without a license, also dismissed.
Henry Walters was the first county judge. The
first suit filed in district court, May 1, 1889 was that of C. H.
Randall versus B. R. Lewis, case dismissed and cost charged
equally against both.
W. W. Renfrow was the first sheriff and bond was
filed Jan. 25, 1888. The first county superintendent of schools
was Clara Shumway. During the preceding two years schools had been
organized so rapidly that there were more than one hundred in the
territory that was west Cheyenne County. Many of these were in
Banner County now.
Lora Sirpliss was the first teacher of the first
school organized. John Wright was the first director and the first
schoolhouse was made of logs and had a dirt floor and roof.
Gertrude Ashford held the first teacher's certificate issued by
the new superintendent of schools. Jones Clapp was the first
teacher in Harrisburg.
In the summer of 1890 was held the first
teacher's institute, a two weeks training course. Among those
attending were Ella Greeman, Veronica Gishwiller, Nettie
Rosenfelt, Albert and William Hampton, Gertrude Ashford, Anna
Urban, Byron Van Vleet, Lulu Callaham, Wealthy Downer, Ida and Eva
Eckerson, Mrs. William McKee, Bell Shumway, Lillie Pierce and Mrs.
L. U. Van Pelt.
The first county fair was held in the fall of
1889. Features were the agricultural display, a pa-
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Banner |
Who's Who |
rade, a band, mule race, pony races and a barbecue, with Jacob
Koenig and William Sauers in charge of the meat course. On the
south side of the courthouse yard was dug a large square pit, in
which a big fire was kept burning for two days. The pit was
covered airtight and left for twenty-four hours after the meat had
been put in on a rack over the live coals.
For the dance, poles and evergreen boughs were
hauled by the young men and a shade provided. A floor was made of
lumber. Another feature of the fair, which lasted three days, was
a horse drawn merry-go-round. People from miles around came in
covered wagons and with tents and camped during the
celebration.
As soon as the location of the county seat had
been determined, C. J. Carlisle opened the first Banner County
bank, capitalizing it with $5,000. The first robbery occurred in
the early nineties. Carlisle was in the bank when a man entered
the back door and commanded the banker to throw up his hands. The
robber's gun caught in the holster, however, allowing the banker
time to flee from the bank, He mounted the robber's horse and
dashed for help.
As the holdup man ran out with his loot, he was
shot in the leg by C. L. Burgess. The money was recovered, Wes
Graham was tried and convicted of the robbery but later escaped.
No effort was made to apprehend him.
The Shumway history says the first white babies
born in early times before the homesteaders were the two children
of Mr. and Mrs. Dick Brown on Pumpkin Creek. The first twins in
Banner County were Carol and Gladys, born Feb. 23, 1889 to Mr. and
Mrs. Sam Kelly. The mother died in childbirth. Gladys is now Mrs.
Ralph Darnell and Carol failed to survive the age of eighteen
months.
The first hardware and implement store in the
county was established by C. M. Moffit who with his family lived
several years in Harrisburg. The first blacksmith shop was owned
and operated by Week Snyder, Sr. The lot for the shop was donated
by C. A. Schooley. The first photographer was G. P. Pierce.
Harrisburg became a thriving village in 1889 and
1890. A church had been organized and built and a new schoolhouse
erected. Bill Cheeney had purchased the Fred Jirden grocery. L. E.
Enderly had established a general merchandise store with Doc
Wilson in charge of the drug department. The three newspapers soon
became one, the Early Day, which subsequently became the Banner
County News.
On April 5, 1889 the first marriage was recorded
in the new county: Arthur M. Strum and Octava Strum at Freeport.
James Murray and Bell .Huffman were married June 14, 1889.
First Banner County commissioners were E. M.
Cowen, Ira Paver and. G. W. Rockafield. On Jan. 25, 1889 they
approved bonds of the new officers: Sheriff Rentfray, County
Attorney Dunlavy, County Clerk John A. Logan, County Judge Henry
Walters and County Surveyor J. W. Thomas. Ashford was approved as
a temporary county seat.
The first murder victim was Jim Walters, killed
in 1895. The first body buried in Harrisburg cemetery was that of
Art Elmwood. The first tombstone in this burial plot was erected
in 1897 for Capt. Van Vleet. The first funeral among the pioneer
families was that of Mary Rose, twenty-two, at the Livingston
ranch, June 25, 1887.
Ed Wright of Minatare was the first baby born in
Banner County. Among the children born near Harrisburg after
organization of the county were Lew Van Pelt, Jessie Wyatt, Mabel
Cross and Melissa Moritz early in 1889 and a baby to the Loman
family.
The first Sunday school was organized in the
spring of 1887 in the Hackberry neighborhood at the homestead of
Cora Olivers. The first Sunday school picnic was held June 1888.
About this time another Sunday school was started in the Big Horn
neighborhood with Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Cashier and Mr. and Mrs.
Randleman active in the organization. The first temperance lecture
was delivered by John Muhr at the Sunday school picnic. As early
as 1890 there was a strong Sunday school organization at
Harrisburg. The church had a resident minister, young peoples
activities, Epworth league and a large W. C. T. U. organization.
Dr. H. S. Fletcher was the first resident physician at Harrisburg.
In later years he had his own drug store.
In 1890 it was reported from various sources
that Indians in the Wyoming territory were on the war path and
coming toward Banner County. A few skirmishes ensued near the
reservation, following which the tribe was divided and a part of
their number sent to northern Montana. The remainder stayed with
the Sioux at the Pine Ridge reservation.
The arrival of the homesteaders crowded the
range cattle westward into Wyoming. During the severe winter of
1888-89, the grass became poor and the cattle were turned back
toward Banner County. There were no fences and no herd law and the
farmers soon had no feed remaining for their own cattle, which
were few in number. Many Bay State cattle were killed for food by
settlers and the shortage of winter feed caused a heavy loss among
the small herds. A herd law was passed the following year for the
protection of the small rancher.
The 1900 census for this county showed a
population of 1,114. In 1910 it was 1,444 but since that time the
number has diminished due to drouth, low farm prices and the
development of large wheat farms of several hundred acres.
Today there is a star mail route from Kimball to
Gering via Harrisburg and mail routes to every
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neighborhood in the county. There is a county high school, a
gymnasium and a dormitory in Harrisburg. Roads are carefully
maintained. Until this year when a $7,000 bond was issued to
repair the high school unit, there has been no bonded
indebtedness. Credit for the county's wheat yield goes to Kimball
or Scotts Bluff because it is all trucked to points in one of the
two counties. Banner county has no railroad, necessitating the
shipment of livestock and farm produce from other counties.
Points of interest in the county are Lovers
Leap, Gabe Springs, Long Springs, Lost Park, Wildcat Range,
Wildcat Game preserve, Bull Canyon and Big Horn mountain. The
county now has seven voting precincts and one small village, the
county seat.
In concluding this narrative, credit should be
accorded the men and women who bravely faced the hardships and
privations of a pioneer land. They left a heritage for their
children, many of whom still live in Banner County. Following is a
list of precincts and their early residents. This is not official
but is drawn from the memory of the writers of this history.
Friends and neighbors have also contributed to the list. Any
omissions which may occur are unintentional.
________
Note: in assembling the foregoing material, the
authors are indebted to Shumway's history for earliest dates in
the prehistory of the county, to K. A. Asplund for his early
newspaper files and to friends who verified various facts.
*indicates families which have descendants
living in Banner County,
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Anderson |
Bigsby* |
Fitzgerald |
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Osborns* |
Larsens* |
Shumways |
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Whites* |
Palmburg |
Cashiers* |
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Diers |
Trowbridge |
Van Vleets |
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Combs |
Mclatchys |
Eckersons |
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Barfoot* |
Frostroms* |
Swans |
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Bradys |
Huffmans* |
Grubbs* |
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Yoeys |
Hendricksons* |
Langmaids |
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Schiel |
Asplund* |
Wilsons* |
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Saver |
Lumberg |
Hamptons |
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Kellys |
Schaffer* |
Gindrich |
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Stauffers* |
Crosbys |
Fadens* |
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Grants* |
Gallups |
Swartz* |
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Alumbaugh |
Piersons* |
Holks* |
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Schooley |
Peters |
Olsons* |
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Baysinger |
Cross |
Chesney |
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Jensen* |
Clapp |
Koenigs* |
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Shafto* |
Livingston |
Dooleys |
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Callahams* |
Maynards* |
Mckees |
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Bruces |
Filers |
Suttons |
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Ryans |
Johnson* |
Snyders* |
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Montzs |
Smith |
Piles |
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Burton |
Ingles |
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Mckinnon* |
Van Pelts* |
Manns |
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Schindler* |
Rundall* |
Sams* |
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Cronn |
Patton* |
Palm* |
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Pierces* |
Bakers |
Cox |
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Williams |
Wyatts* |
Darnalls* |
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Raybruns |
Streeks* |
E. M. Cowen |
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Hubbards |
Skinners* |
Browns* |
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Mcnett* |
Drapers |
Heard |
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Schobars |
Cooke |
Jessup* |
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Roberts |
Whipples* |
Shaul* |
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Milholln |
Hankerson |
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Krikbaum |
Logan |
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Foremans |
Wynnes* |
Spahr* |
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Beck |
Earlys* |
Hulls |
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Stoddard* |
Ammermans* |
Mccompsy |
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Warners* |
Jones* |
Prestons* |
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Cross* |
Kesslers |
Tremains* |
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Mitchell* |
Dunne* |
Mainards |
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Heintz* |
Creightons* |
Cards* |
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Johnson* |
Jensen* |
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Peterson* |
Carlson |
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DUNN, JOHN HOWARD: Rancher; b Mills
Co, Ia May 28, 1879; s of William Edward Dunn-Elizabeth Owens; ed
Banner Co; m Cecil Ogg Apr 1912 Kimball; s William B, Richard
Warren, Ora Wayne; d Mildred H; family moved to Burt Co 1881,
homesteaded in western Banner Co 1888; 1894- manager, opr ranch
since father's death, raises Herefords also Belgian &
Percheron horses; with two brothers co-owner 8000 A ranch western
Banner Co; past regent Banner Co HS, Harrisburg; Rep; res
LaGrange, Wyo.
JESSUP, FRANK P: County Clerk; b Palmyra,
Neb Aug 23, 1885; s of James J Jessup-Adelia A Van Ostrand; ed
Lincoln HS 1907; U of N 1910; Alpha Tau Omega; m Marie Barr June
28, 1910 Lincoln; s James B, Charles E; d Mary Alice (Mrs ___
Burchfield), Louise, Geraldine (dec); 1886-94 resided in Lincoln;
1894-1906 with parents farmed in Scotts Bluff Co; 1905-10 resided
in Lincoln; 1910- homesteader & farmer in Banner Co, lived on
original homestead until 1933; 1933-34 worked in AAA program,
Banner Co; 1934- Banner Co clk; AF&AM 32o,
Minatare; Neb Assn of Co Commrs, Co Clks, Co Registers of Deeds
& Co Highway Commrs; Neb Conf of Social Work; secy & treas
85 Rifle Club, Harrisburg; Presby Ch, Rep; hobby, rifle
marksmanship; off Courthouse; res Harrisburg.
JOHNSON, LEONARD HENRY: Farmer, Rancher;
Banner Co, Neb Jan 7, 1894; s of Charles William Johnson-Ellen C
Nelsen; ed Banner Co; Potter; m Edna Victoria Peterson June 24,
1915 Heath; s Elwood Leonard (dec), Billy Wayne; d Margaret Jean;
1915- farmer & rancher in Banner Co; assessor Lone Pine pct,
now serving 2nd term; 1936 helped org Banner Co Fair, supt agrl
dept since; mbr sch bd dist 19 several years; mbr Harrisburg HS bd
8 years; AF&AM 313; pres Farm Bur; Meth Ch, past trustee; Rep;
hobby, travel; father (dec 1936) came to W Neb 1886, P M of Kirk
several years, 1924 elec sen, served 6 years; res Potter.
JOHNSON, VICTOR JULIUS: Farmer, Rancher;
b Banner Co, Neb May 4, 1891; s of C W Johnson-Ellen C Nelson; ed
Kirk; Potter HS; m Mildred L Anderson June 22, 1927 Potter; s
Clayton Dean, Rodney Dale, Kenneth Lee; 1906-19 with brother
managed father's farm; 1919- owner & opr home farm; mbr sch bd
several years; AF&AM 313; Meth Ch; hobby, baseball; res Banner
Co.
LEAFDALE, GEORGE WILLIAM: County
Treasurer; b Central City, Neb May 12, 1887; s of Martin
Leafdale-Cecelia Monson; ed Cheyenne & Banner Cos; m Minnie
Larson Dec 18, 1918 Lincoln; s Norris G; d Marjorie E, Maxine E;
1906- rancher 20 mi E Harrisburg; 1914-22 mail carrier Kirk to
Harrisburg; 1939- Banner Co treas; past mbr sch bd dist 19 &
dist 38 for 10 years; past Long Pine pct assessor 2 terms; hobby,
travel; parents came to Merrick Co 1886, Cheyenne Co 1888,
homesteaded, father was minister 16 years; off Courthouse; res,
Harrisburg.
LEE, MRS KATHRYN K: County Superintendent
of Schools; b Mason City, Neb Nov 3, 1888; d of Joseph K
Green-Cyrenna E Lloyd; ed Gibbon HS 1908; PSTC; CSTC; m William L
Lee Dec 24, 1911 Sidney; s William L Jr; d Georgia (Mrs Ralph Van
Pelt); 1890-1908 resided in Gibbon; 1908-10 moved to Sidney, tchr
in Cheyenne & Kimball Cos; filed and lived on own homestead in
Kimball Co; 1911-22 with husband homesteaded Kimball Co; 1922-26
tchr Banner Co; 1926- Banner Co supt of schs: NSTA; Neb St Assn of
Co Supts; Dist Assn of Co Supts; Community Meth Ch, ladies aid;
Rep; hobbies, reading, travel; husband's family direct descendants
of Abraham Lincoln; off Courthouse; res Harrisburg.
SHAFTO, MILTON ELY: County Judge; b
Clinton, Ia Dec 23, 1859; s of Thomas Shafto-Anna B Forman; ed
Lyons Ia Acad 1878; m Nellie R Dillon Apr 16, 1896 Cozad; s
Clarence M, Paul D; 1878-80 tally
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Who's Who |
boy for Lamb Lbr Co, Clinton Ia; 1880-86 learned jewelry trade
with E M Howes, Clinton Ia; 1886 came from Ia to Banner Co,
homesteaded 1888, farmed until 1900; 1896-1900 Banner Co clk;
1900-05 owner & opr ranch 5 mi SE Harrisburg; 1905-07 held
various jobs in Harrisburg; 1907-12, 1915- Banner Co judge;
believed to have served longer than any living judge in Neb; also
in abstract bus, Harrisburg; past mbr sch bd 20 years; past regent
Banner Co HS 7 years; AF&AM, Kimball; KP, past chancellor
comm, del to grand lodge several terms; Congl Ch; Rep; hobby,
travel; off Courthouse; res Harrisburg.
SHAUL, JAMES G: County Sheriff; b Banner
Co, Neb July 2, 1898; s of William Shaul-Mary Palmer; ed Banner
Co; m Ethel G Clary Apr 4, 1919 Harrisburg; d Mildred Ruth,
Phyllis Lorene; 1918- owner & mgr farm NE of Harrisburg; 1939-
Banner Co sheriff; Neb Sheriffs & Peace Ofcrs Assn; Rep; off
Courthouse; res Harrisburg.
SNYDER, MRS LULU CALLAHAM KOENIG:
Homemaker; b Topeka, Kas Feb 8, 1876; d of Albert K Callaham-Ida W
Powers; ed Banner Co; Kimball HS 1893-94; U of Wyo; Barnes Bus
Course, Scottsbluff; m John A Koenig Jan 22, 1896 Harrisburg; s
Afton Arthur Koenig, Winfred Myrl, Byron Paul, Clifton Fay; d
Beulah Pauline (Mrs W C Fuerst); m Mervin Snyder Mar 3, 1934
Harrisburg; 1892-1917 tchr in Neb & Wyo, also taught art in
connection with sch work & domestic science for 3 years;
1916-17 prin primary dept Lingle Wyo; 1917-22 supt of schs, Goshen
Co Wyo; 1922-30 representative for Grolier Soc of Chicago, selling
Book of Knowledge in Wyo, Ind, NE, Ia, Southern Ill; 1931-33 tchr
in Hull pct Banner Co; 1933-34 art instr in Scottsbluff, 1934-
homemaker, Banner Co; past pres Banner County Country Club;
Rebekah, Scottsbluff, ch mbr, 1st noble grand; Presby Ch, SS supt;
Dem; hobbies, horticulture, art, history, education; father came
from Minn to Custer Co 1886, then in covered wagon to Cheyenne Co
1887, helped org 1st church in Harrisburg, instrumental in
building Banner Co Courthouse; interested in bees, owner apiary.
Res Harrisburg.
SNYDER, MERVIN RUDOLPH: Farmer, Rancher;
b Scott Co, Ia May 27, 1872; s of Meck Snyder-Adlaid LaBarr; ed
Hamilton Co Ia; m Mary Koenig Mar 25, 1897 Harrisburg; s Meck A,
James J, Glen M, Arthur C, Herbert G; d Pink (Mrs W 0 Brown),
Bessie (Mrs Bud Larsen), Ruby (Mrs Pete Hansen), Alice Susie M
(Mrs Fred Eckland); m Lulu C Koenig Callaham Mar 3, 1934
Harrisburg; 1893 homesteaded 4 mi S, 6 mi E of Harrisburg, farmer
& rancher; active in Jr baseball & young peoples affairs
in comm; past pres Western Neb Tele Co, Harrisburg 4 years;
moderator dist 16 sch bd 33 years; Dem; hobby, travel; father came
from Ia to Neb 1886 settled in what is now Banner Co; his &
wife's fathers helped divide old Cheyenne Co into Kimball, Banner
& Scotts Bluff Counties; res RFD, Harrisburg.
VAN PELT, LESTER M: Farmer &
Stockman; b Essex, Ia June 20, 1881; s of Thomas Van Pelt-Lotta
Brookhart; m Nellie Noyes July 17, 1907 Hull (dec); s Ralph,
Richard, Ronald; d Frances (Mrs Robert McKunnon), Gleana (dec);
farmer & stock raiser, 1900 began raising livestock: past mbr
sch bd 27 years; mbr Farmers Union 25 years; mbr Neb Farm Bur
Fedn; mbr Banner Co Fair bd, past mbr Soil Conservation Com; AOUW;
MWA; res Bushnell.
WILSON, JOHN MANSON: Merchant; b
Tippecanoe, Ind Oct 18, 1862; s of James Wilson-Eliza 0 Pittinger;
ed Cuming Co; m Ruby Fitzsimmons Jan 1, 1890 Harrisburg; s Elmer
M; d Mabel (Mrs E E Thomas); 1882-83 clk Emily & Perrine Drug
Co, Wisner; 1883-87 various vocations in W Neb; 1887-88 clk for
Enderly Bros Drug Co Nonpareil; 1888-89 druggist & clk for
same co at Gering; 1889-94 tsfrd to Harrisburg; 1894- owner &
opr gen store, Harrisburg; pres Bank of Harrisburg 4 years;
registered pharm since 1896; past mbr sch bd 20 years; past Banner
Co treas 8 years; KP, past chancellor comm, del to grand lodge
several terms; Dem, chmn Banner Co Central Com several terms;
hobby, reading; father came from Ind to Neb 1867, homesteaded
Cuming Co; res Harrisburg.
WYATT, HARVEY LAWSON: Rancher; b Wayne
Co, Ia Jan 5, 1884; s of William E Wyatt-Susan C Duncan; ed Banner
Co; m Bessie Waitman Jan 22, 1908 Gering; s Leo D; d Norma (Mrs
Ralph Allen), Susan (Mrs Raymond Scheffler); family came in
covered wagon from Ia, homesteaded in E Banner Co, farm still in
possession of family; 1905-06 farmed with brother in E Banner Co;
1906-16 homesteaded NE of Harrisburg & also oprd father's
farm; 1916- owner & opr farms near Harrisburg, raises feeder
cattle, uses strip farming on 1300 A; past regent Banner Co HS at
Harrisburg; past mbr sch bd dist 5 for 10 years; KP, past grand
chancellor; BPOE 1367; Neb Stockgrowers Assn; Dem; res
Harrisburg.
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